Clearwater
Sun
November 3, 1979
Shocked officials say they'll fight
by Debbie Winsor
CLEARWATER -
Church of Scientology documents released Thursday that outline the
Scientologists' intention to control or "take over" the city
left local government officials wondering Friday how the group planned
to reach that goal - and what it should do about it.
Mayor
Charles LeCher and City Manager Anthony Shoemaker agreed the city's
first move is to seek copies of the documents released Thursday in
Washington, D.C., by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Richey.
"We have to find out what the documents say to decide if, as a
city, we should take any action," LeCher said.
Shoemaker said he wants more facts before drawing any conclusions about
the Scientologists' documented plan to maneuver the media and government
officials.
But
he said he was "shocked" to learn of the Scientologists'
expressed desire to gain control of "key points" in the city,
such as government agencies and media outlets.
LeCher pointed to the potential impact the Scientologists could have on
local elections.
"They could control the city commission. They have 1,600
people here, and that many people could swing an election," he
said.
LeCher and Jim Parker, executive director of the Greater Clearwater
Chamber of Commerce, said they didn't think the Scientologist presence
had hurt the city's vital tourist industry.
But
LeCher, concerned about the future, cautioned: "Down the road, I
hope when people think of Clearwater, they don't think of
Scientology."
"We're too small. We can't absorb all of
them."
Referring to former mayor Gabriel Cazares, the city's most vocal
spokesman of anti-Scientology sentiment, Shoemaker said Cazares
"was right. He may prove to be a very farsighted man."
In
late 1975, after the Scientologists moved into the city as the United
Churches of Florida, Cazares hounded members for information on the
"master plan" for their Clearwater operation.
Without knowing that United Churches was the Church of Scientology,
Cazares criticized the organization for buying property under a front
name and demanded that it "reveal" its master plan.
Friday, the former mayor said he wasn't surprised by the revelations
coming out of Washington.
"My request for a master plan finally came out, from Judge
Richey," Cazares said. "This is only the tip of the
iceberg. If the real story is ever known it will boggle the
mind. This cult poses the clearest threat to American society and
institutions that exists."
Cazares used the revelations to again criticize elected officials, both
local and national, who haven't been as outspoken against the
Scientologists as he.
U.S. Reps.
Richard Kelly, R- New Port Richey, and C.W. Bill Young, R- St.
Petersburg, came under special attack from Cazares for not conducting a
congressional investigation into the Scientologists.
Commissioner Richard Tenney echoed Cazares's remarks. The
commissioner traveled to the nation's capital in March, trying to
solicit interest in such an inquiry.
Tenney said the recent revelations will prompt him to again ask for a
congressional investigation, in addition to urging local probes by
federal officials.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Banoun, chief prosecutor in the federal
court case that led to the release of the documents Thursday, soon might
move the Justice Department Investigation to Clearwater, Tenney said.
Kelly
and Young also weren't surprised by disclosure that the Scientologists
sought to gain control of this city of 90,000, nor by the revelation
that the group kept files on them.
"I have assumed for a long time that they did," keep such
files, Young said from Washington in a telephone interview.
He
and Kelly agreed that reports of Scientology-held dossiers on their
activities make "little difference" to them.
Young, a member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, said he
had asked for a briefing on the documents next week.
The
senior congressman said he first contacted the FBI about the
Scientologists soon after the group bought property in Clearwater, and
he said he was asked not to turn the sect's arrival here into a
political issue.
At
that time, he said, the FBI was investigating the Scientologists and
feared a national-level political issue would hinder that inquiry.
"It may be that now, the government authorities will decide there
is no reason for political authorities" not to get involved in the
Scientology issue, he said.
Kelly
said he hasn't yet seen any of the documents seized by the FBI in July
1977 and would want to review the information before promoting an
investigation.
But
Cazares came down on the congressman, the press and the city and county
officials for "looking the other way," allowing the
Scientologists to operate their Clearwater center free from criticism.
LeCher said the Scientologists have not intimidated or harassed him or
any other commissioners. He said the group did tell him, however,
that its American Citizens for Honesty in Government are planned to
investigate city officials.
"But they wouldn't say how," LeCher said. "I asked
them how they would conduct such an investigation, and they wouldn't
tell me."
"Everything seems to be falling into place. It annoys the
hell out of me."
Scientology spokesman Nancy Reitze denied that the organization ever
investigated city officials.
The
group did survey city residents, asking them whether they believe
government to be corrupt. The overwhelming majority replied yes,
she said.
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